Torch device



Dec. 12, 1944. c. MoTT ET AL TORCH DEVICE '5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed MarCh'Sl, 1942 BY ogm, P'MM ATTORNEYS Dec. 12, 1944. c. Mo'rT ET AL 2,364,645

TORCH DEVICE Filed March 5l, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 A L FRED E CHOU/IVA RD ROBERT L. HARD/NG @wf/iw M ATTORNEYS I Dec. 12, 1944. c. MoTT ETAL TORCH DEVICE Filed March 3l, 1942 Patented Dec. 12, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TORCH DEVICE Chester Mott, Evanston, and Alfred F. Chouinard and Robert L. Harding, to National Cylinder Gas Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application March 31, 1942, Serial No. 436,974

(Cl. 26S-23) 17 Claims.

The present invention relates to a torch device of the type in which a gas flame from a torch tip is directed towards the surface of a metal workpiece for cutting, welding, llame hardening or the like.

One object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved torch device, having means for controlling or indicating certain conditions or initiating certain operations in said device in accordance with the electrical conductivity of the gas flame.

Another object is to provide a torch device of the character described, having new and improved means by which the torch tip can be maintained or controlled at a, preset distance from the work surface during operations irrespective of irregularities in said surface.

Another object is to provide a torch device of the type described having new and improved means for automatically and accurately distanoing the torch tip from the work surface within preset limits during operations.

Another object is to provide a torch device of the type described having new and improved means for indicating changes that may occur during operations in the preset position of the torch tip with respect to the work surface.

A further object is to provide a torch device of the type described having means by which the torch tip can be maintained either automatically or manually between preset limits at a distance from the work surface, without the use of any gauges or similar device riding over said surface.

A further object is to provide a torch tip distancing device which is accurately controlled at any instance of operation directly in accordance with the distance of the torch tip from that section of the work surface which is directly opposite the tip at that instance.

In carrying out the vfeatures of the present invention, the gas flame from the torch tip is utilized as part of an electric circuit to control current conditions in said circuit. The electrical conductivity of the ame varies inversely as the length thereof, and this flame length increases with increasing size of preheating orifices. Therefore, as the distance from tip to plate is changed, the current conditions in the circuit are also changed. 'I'his change in the circuit is employed to automatically maintain the torch tip at a predetermined distance from the work surface in one embodiment of the invention, or to indicate to the operator movement of the torch tip transverse to said surface and beyond preset limits in another embodiment.

The conductivity of the gas flame also depends on the proportion of the heating combustible gases and on the thermal potentials resulting from the heating of the workpiece. These addi- Chicago, Ill., assignors tional factors controlling the conductivity of the flame can be utilized in accordance with the present invention to indicate or control other conditions or initiate certain other operations which depend on these factors. For instance, the present invention may be employed to indicate the gas ratio or to automatically turn on the high pressure cutting oxygen after the metal workpiece has been preheated to the proper temperature.

Various other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following particular description, and from an inspection of the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is a somewhat simplified schematic diagram of a system incorporating the features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective front View somewhat diagrammatic of a torch cutting machine incorporating the torch tip distancing control features of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a perspective rear view somewhat diagrammatic of the torch cutting machine of Fig. 2, but showing the work table and the torch crosshead hose removed;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing an end portion of the torch carriage with a torch crosshead unit supported thereon;

Fig. 5 is a perspective View showing one torch crosshead unit with part of its casing removed to reveal the interior thereof;

Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. '7 is a section taken on line 'l-'l of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a, wiring diagram for automatically controlling the distance of the torch tips from the work surface in a torch cutting machine.

In Fig. 1 is shown a simplified circuit designed in accordance with the present invention for controlling, indicating or initiating certain operations of a torch device in which a torch flame I2 having a tip Ill travels for cutting, welding, flame hardening or the like. The torch frame I2 as well as the workpiece Il are connected into this circuit, s0 that the gas ame from the torch tip I0 forms part of the conducting path of said circuit.l The electrical conductivity of this flame depends on the proportions of the gas mixture. In a cutting machine, the conductivity of the gas flame would depend on the ratio between the preheat oxygen and the fuel gas. For optimum preheating conditions, the preheating oxygen and fuel gas are proportioned in a cutting machine to maintain a so-called neutral ame. Once this proportion has been set, it is not changed.

Another factor which affects the conductivity of the gas llame is the thermal potentials and all allied effects resulting from the heating of the workpiece Il during cutting operations. After over a metal workpiece the workpiece II has been heated to the proper kindling temperature, the conductivity of the gas flame due directly to the thermal potentials and all allied eiiects remains constant over the desired working range.

Another factor which affects the electrical conductivity of the gas llame is its length. This flame conductivity varies inversely as the length thereof.

Variations in the conductivity of the gas flame are therefore indications oi' changes in the proportion of the gas mixture, changes in the temperature of the workpiece II or changes in the effective distance of the torch tip Ill from the work surface. By maintaining any two of these factors affecting the conductivity of the ilame constant, any variation in the flame conductivity would be a direct measure of changes in the third factor, 'I'his third factor can thereby 4be controlled, its changes indicated or certain operations automatically initiated when said factor reaches a predetermined value.

The system shown in Fig. 1 includes a device I4 for making and breaking a control circuit in accordance with the conductivity of the gas flame. This make or break condition of the control circuit may be employed to control a motor which raises or lowers the torch I2, to operate an indicating device or to automatically initiate certain operations as will be more fully described herein after.

As a further feature of the present invention, the control device I4 is in the form of a thermionic governor or valve shown as a hot cathode gas tetrode tube having a cathode I5, an anode I6 and a control grid I1 between said cathode and said anode. A screen grid I8 may be provided serving as a shield between the control grid I1 and the anode I6, and also serving to reduce the interelectrode capacity within the tube. A lament 20 in the tube connected across the secondary coil of a transformer 2I serves to warm the cathode I5, so that said cathode emits electrons having a negative charge. The anode I has a positive potential connected to it, so that the electrons emitted by the cathode I5 will be attracted to said anode. Once this electron flow is created between the cathode I5 and the anode I6, a conductive circuit is established through the tube I4 between these electrodes. 'A relay coil 23 controlling a switch 24 is connected to the anode circuit of the electrodes I5 and I6, so that when electron ilow is established in the tube I4 between these electrodes, current will ilow from main A through relay coil 23 to anode IB, across the conductive path provided by the electron ilow to cathode I5, and then to the main B. The switch 24 may be in the circuit of the motor which controls the vertical movement of the torch I2, or may be in the circuit of an indicating or other operating device as will be more fully set forth.

The grid I1 controls the electron fiow passing therethrough. If this control grid I1 is suiiiciently negative in potential, it will repel the negative electrons from the cathode I5. Any slight change below or above the critical potential of control grid I1 will act as a governing device for the ilow or stoppage of ilow of the electrons reaching anode I6.

The tube I4 in the speciilc form shown is gas filled and designed with sharp cut-oil.' features, so that once an electron flow is established between the cathode I5 and anode I6, the gas in the tube becomes ionized and provides a greater controns than can be supplied by the hot cathode alone. Furthermore, with this type o! tube, at a certain value of potential on the anode I0 there is established a certain critical potential for the control grid I1, at which value the tube becomes conductive.

Another characteristic of these gas illled tubes is that once plate current (i. e., electron ilow) is established, the grid I1 will not regain control by becoming more negative as long as there is a positive potential applied to anode I5. Consequently, the only way in which control may be returned to the grid I1 is by removing or reducing the potential at the anode I6, This is accomplished by applying at mains A, B a source of alternating current, so that control is returned to the grid I1 sixty times a second, assuming that the current applied at these mains is sixty cycles and the grid voltage has reached a value suiilcient fo attain this control.

In the grid control circuit is a battery 25, the positive side of which is connected to the metallic part of the torch I2 through a conductor 26, while the negative side is connected to the cathode I5 through a potentiometer 21. 'I'he slider 28 of this potentiometer is connected to the control grid I1 through a current limiting resistor 38.

With the circuit arrangement shown in Fig. 1, and assuming that the preheat gases are lit and burning, there will exist a certain negative potential at the control grid I1. If this negative potential exceeds a certain optimum value (for one set value of anode voltage), this control grid I1 will prevent the tube I4 from conducting current. If this negative potential on the control grid n is less negative than this certain op timum value, then the grid I1 will not have control of the tube I4 and current will ilow in the anode circuit. As the slider 28 is moved towards the right, the value of the negative bias potential applied to the control grid I1 will be lessened, and at some point along the resistor 21, the tube I4 will begin to conduct anode current.

With the torch set so that the tip Ill is at the desired distance from the workpiece II, if the slider 28 is moved along the resistor 21 to a point just before the tube I4 becomes conductive, then if this distance'should be increased, the negative potential at the control grid I1 will be decreased to a point at which the tube I4 begins to iire (i. e., becomes conductive), so that the anode circuit is closed by conduction through the tube, the relay 23 is energized and the switch 24 is closed.

If the slider 28 is set to a point on the resistor 21 so that the tube I4 is just conducting, then if the distance between the torch tip I0 and the surface of the workpiece II should be reduced, the negative potential at the grid I1 will be incerased to a. value which will prevent the tube I4 from conducting, so that the anode circuit will be opened, the relay 23 deenergized and the switch 24 opened.

It is seen therefore, that the system of Fig. l can be utilized to make or break the anode circuit in accordance with variations in the electrical conductivity of the gas flame. 'I'his operation of the anode circuit can, for instance, be employed to control or indicate the movement of the torch tip IlI towards or away from the workpiece II, as has been made apparent and as will be explained more fully in connection with ducting path and a larger number of free elec- 'l5 the cutting machine shown in Figs. 2 to 8. As

ing on of the high pressure cutting oxygen. For

this purpose the torch tip Ill would be properly positioned over the metal to be cut, and thev preheat gases turned on, lighted and adjusted for the proper flame characteristics.- Then when the metal has reached the proper kindling temperature, and the conductivity of the llame increased to a corresponding value, the tube I4 would become non-conductive, the anode circuit opened and the relay 23 deenerglzed. This deenergized relay 23 may be made to close the contacts controlling a solenoid operated high pressure oxygen valve. Preheating periods would thereby be cut to the operating minimum, excessive burning of the plate edges would be eliminated, and the machine would be operated at its maximum output.

As an example of the type of torch device in which the basic principles of our invention shown in Fig. 1 may be employed, We have shown somewhat schematically in Figs. 2 and 3 and more in detail in Figs. 4 and 5 a cutting apparatus of the form shown and claimed in Patents 2,336,596

and 2,356,215 granted on copending applications Serial Nos. 378,102 and 389,404. This cutting apparatus includes a carriage 40, which travels horizontally on rails over a table 4I on which may be supported a templet, drawing, pattern or other guide, and which projects beyond said table. The carriage 4IJ is pro-vided with a beam having parallel superposed rails 42, which support a tracing mechanism 43 and a plurality of spaced torch crosshead units 44, and which guide them along the carriage in a horizontal direction at right angles to the direction of movement of said carriage. These crosshead units 44, three of which are shown, travel in unison over the workpiece II resting on a table 45, and carry respective torches I2 for duplicate cutting of said workpiece. Each crosshead unit 44 is provided with two superposed pairs of guide rollers 46 riding over the rails 42.

'Ihe tracing mechanism 43 may be of the wellknown type, or may be of the form shown and claimed in Patent 2,336,626 granted on companion application Serial No. 395,616. This mechanism has a tracing element 4l in the form of a tra-cer wheel, pointer, spotlight or the like, which is steered along the outline of the pattern or other guide to be copiedor traced, and which may be driven by a motor, so that it acts as a traction wheel to move the carriage and the torches on the carriage.

la frame structure shown in the form of a boxlike casing 52, and an outer removable cover 53 U-shapedv in cross-section and telescopically fitted around the casing 52 as shown in Fig. 4. This cover 53 forms in conjunction with the frame casing 52 a housing for a torch adjusting motor 54 and other operating parts to be described.

The means for manually effecting the elevational adjustment of each torch I2 with respect to the workpiece I I is disclosed and claimed in Patmay be vertically ent 2,336,596, and includes a vertical shaft 51 driven from the motor 54 through a suitable reduction gear unit 58, and secured to a suitably journalled lead screw B0 extending vertically in the frame casing 52. Threaded on this lead screw 60 is a nut 6I to which is connected a plate 62. Rigid with this plate 62 are three guide rods 63 slidably passing through respective guide sleeves 64 lixed to the bottom wall of the frame casing 52. Connected to the lower ends of these guide rods 63 ls an angle bracket 65 having a horizontal flange connected to said guide rods. and a vertical ange to which the torch I2 may be secured in any desired adjusted position. The torch I2 adjusted with respect to the bracket 65 and clamped in position by a screw 66 which is mounted on a clamp 6l by which said torch is fastened to said bracket. This clamp 61 is insulated from the bracket 65 by an insulating disc 68, and the fastening member (not shown) by which said clamp is fixed to said bracket is also insulated so that the torch I2 is insulated from the crosshead frame. Suitable means for angularly adjusting the torch I2 may also be provided.

When the motor 54 is driven, the lead screw 60 is turned to move the nut 6I therealong and the guide rods 63 endwise, so that the torch I2 is adjusted up and down as desired. The lead screw 60 and lead nut 6I form self-locking means by which downward slipping of the torch I2 from the desired elevational position is prevented when the motor 54 is deenergized.

The motor 54 is of the reversible type, and each of the crossheads carries a switching device by which this motor may be operated in either direction. As shown, this device includes a switch lever 'lll disposed between a pair of motor circuit switches S-'II and S-'I2. The switch S-'II closes one circuit of the motor 54 to run said motor in one direction and raise the torch I2, while the switch S-'l2 closes the other circuit of said motor to run the motor in the opposite direction and thereby lower the torch.

To prevent accidental jamming of the parts or stalling of the motor 54 when the nut 6I reaches the upper or lower limits of its movement, there are provided limit switches S-13 and S-14 which are operated by the nut 6I or associated parts. These switches are normally closed, but one or the other is opened to break the circuits and stop the motor 54 if either switch S-1I or S-'I2 is held closed for too long a time.

The operation of the motors 54 by which the raising or lowering of the several torches I2 is manually effected, may be controlled from either one of a plurality of control stations. All of the motors 54 may be controlled from a main control panel 76 (Figs. 2 and 3) adjacent to the tracing mechanism 43 and secured to the carriage 4I), or from an auxiliary control panel ll xed to the free end of said carriage, and the motor 54 of each individual crosshead unit 44 can be -controlled by its own switch lever as above described.

The right half of the wiring diagram in Fig. 8 shows one way in which the individual crosshead motors 54 may be manually controlled from a plurality of control stations. Similar wiring could be employed for each crosshead motor 54.

If the carriage 40 is provided with three crosshead units 44, the main control panel 16 has three pairs of switches, one pair for each motor; the auxiliary control panel 'Il also has three pairs of switches, one for each motor; and each crosshead unit 44 has a pair of switches for its own motor as already described. The two switches of each pair are arranged in superposed relationship, and each pair has a single vertically movable operating handle. On the main control panel 18, each upper switch.S-80 controls the raising of the corresponding torch I2, and each lower switch S-8I controls the lowering of said torch. Each pair has a single lever 82. On the auxiliary control panel 11, each pair of switches S83 and S--84 is arranged in similar superposed relationship and with a single lever 85 therebetween. f

The direction of rotation of the motor 54 is controlled from the switch levers 10, 82 and 85 according to whether they are pushed up or down from normal position. Each motor 54 may be of the single-phase reversing type with two stator windings 88 and 81, and with a condenser 88 in series with the winding 81.

The current to the system is supplied by the mains A', B'. A relay mounted in each crosshead unit includes an electro-magnetic coil 90 and contacts C-9|, C-92, C-93, C-04 and C-95 operated mechanically by the armature of the relay 90.

The blades of the various switches and of the relay contacts described are shown in solid lines in normal position with the motor 54 at rest and the coil 80 of the relay deenergized. They may be moved to the dotted-line position to control the circuit as will be explained.

To raise any torch I2 from the main control panel 18, the corresponding lever 82 is raised to move the contact blade of its upper switch S-80 into upper dotted position, so that the current flows from main A to points and I0 I, through switch S-80 in dotted position to points |02 and |03, through switch S-13 to point |04. From this point |04, the current divides and follows a parallel path. One branch of this parallel circuit continues from point |04 through winding 88 to point |05, and returns to main B. The other parallel branch continues from point |04 to points |08 'and |01, through contact C-92 to points |09 and ||0, through winding 81 in the direction indicated by arrow C to point |II, through contact C-94 to points I I2 and |05, and to the main B. The motor 54 is thereby driven in a direction determined by the direction of current flow in the windings 81, and the lead screw 80 rotated in a corresponding direction to raise the nut 8| and the torch I2. When the torch I2 reaches the desired elevation, the lever 82 is released, and will automatically return to neutral position, and the circuit restored to the open neutral position indicated in full lines, so that the motor 54 is stopped.

To raise the torch I2 from the auxiliary control panel 11, the lever 85 on said panel corresponding to the torch to be raised is lifted to move the contact blade of the upper switch S-83 in the dotted position shown. Under these conditions, the current flows from main A' to points |00 and |0I, through switches S-80, S8|, S-1I and S--12 in full line positions shown, through switch S-83 in dotted position to points |02 and |03, through switch S-13 and to point |04. From this point |04, the current travels in the same direction as was described previously.

To raise the torch I2 from the control on its respective crosshead, the lever 18 is raised to move the contact blade of the upper switch S-1I into dotted position shown. In this position, the current flows from main A to point I 0I, through switches S--80 and S-BI in full line positions,

through switch S-1I in dotted position to point |08, through switch S-1I t0 Point |04. From this point |04, the current travel is the same as was previously described.

It the nut 8| reaches its upper limit before the operating control levers 10, 82 and 85 are released, a pin on said nut will lift the contact blade of the safety switch S--18 to open the circuit of the motor windings 88 and 81, and thereby stop the motor 54.

To lower any torch I2 from the main control panel 18, the corresponding lever 82 is lowered to move the contact blade oi the respective lower switch S-8I. In this lowered position of the lever 82, the current ilows from main A to points |00 and |0I, through switch S-80 in full line position, through switch S-BI in dotted position to points ||1 and |I8, through switch S-14,

through relay coil 90 to points 2 and |05 and to main B'. 'I'his actuation of switch S-8| energizes relay coil 90, and causes the contact blades of the relay switches to be shifted into the dotted line position shown, so that contacts C-82 and C-94 vare opened, and contacts C--8|, C--88 and C-95 are closed. With contact C-8I closed in the dotted line position shown, the current ilows from main A' through contact C9| in dotted position, and to point |08. From point |08, the current travels along parallel paths to Inain B. One branch of this parallel circuit is from point |08 to point |04, through the motor winding 88 to point |05, and then to main B'. The other branch of this parallel circuit is from point |08 to point |01, through contact C-93 in dotted line position to point through the ileld winding 81 in the direction indicated by the arrow D to point |09, through contact C-95 in dotted position to point ||2 and |05, and out through main B. It will be seen that the current flow through the field winding 88 is always in the same direction, while the current flow through the field winding 81 changes depending upon whether it is desired to have the torch raised or lowered.

To lower any torch I2 from auxiliary control panel 11, the corresponding lever 85 is lowered to move the contact blade of the respective switch S-84 into dotted line position shown. In this lowered position of the lever 85, the current ilows from main A', through switches S-80, S--8|, S-1|, S-12 and S-13 in full line positions shown, through switch S--84 in dotted line posivtion shown to point I|1, through switch S-14,

and through the relay 90. From here the current flows in the manner described in connection with the torch lowering actuation of switch S-8|. To lower the torch I2 from the control on its respective crosshead, the corresponding lever 10 is lowered to move the contact blade of the lower switch S-12 into dotted position shown, so that the current ilows from main A through switches S-80, S-8I and S-1I in full line positions shown, through switch S-1'2 in dotted position shown to point ||8, through switch 14 and through the relay coil 90. From here the current flows in the manner described in connection with the torch lowering actuation of switch S-8 I If the nut 8| reaches its lower limit before the switch levers 10, 82 and 85 are released, a pin on 4 said nut will push down the contact blade of the safety switch S-14 to stop the motor 54.

As a feature of the present invention, the automatic distancing control of the torch tip |0 is operated only after the high pressure cutting oxygen has been turned on. 'I'he method for controlling the high pressure cutting oxygen and 42 and |43 through parallel preheat gases to the torch or torches of the cutting machine may, for-instance, be of the type shown in `Patent 2,356,215 granted on copending application Serial No. 389,404. In this construction, each of the torches |2 is provided with the usual conduits for respectively delivering preheat fuel gas such as acetylene, low pressure oxygen and high pressure cutting oxygen to the torch tip |0, these conduits being controlled by respective hand valves |20. Three rigid pipes l2|, |22 and |23 (Fig. 3) extending side by side along the rear carriage base |24 deliver the three gases respectively from one end of the. carriage 40 to a discharge section substantially midway of the projecting part of the carriage, and are connected at said section to a manifold unit |25 by detachable fittings. At the other inlet end, the pipes |2|, |22 and |23 are connected by flexible hose |29 to respective gas supply tanks (not shown). The manifold unit |25 is shown affixed to the front frame plate of the carriage 40 above the base |24, and has its three inlets connected directly to the outlet ends of the gas supply pipes |2|, |22 and |23. The gas from the manifold unit |25 is piped from the outlets of said unit to the respective torches |2 by ilexible hose |26 (Figs. 2 and 4).

A valve |21 in the high pressure cutting oxygen line 23 regulates the pressure in said line according to the thickness of the plate to be cut, and is operated from a hand wheel |28.

The pressure in the preheat gas lines |2| and |22 may be regulated in any suitable manner, as for instance, from the supply tanks. These preheat gas lines |2| and |22 are provided with respective valves |30 and |3|, and the high pressure cutting oxygen line 23 is provided with a similar valve |32. These valves |30, |3| and |32 are of the quick-acting type, as for instance of the solenoid operated type, and are controlled from the panels 16 or 11. The panel 16 carries switches |33 and |34 controlling the opening and closing of the high pressure cutting oxygen valve |32, and also carries the necessary switches for operating the preheat gas valves. The other panel 11 carries switches |35 and |36 controlling the opening and closing of the high pressure cutting oxygen valve |32, and also carries the switches for controlling the preheat gas valves. The lower middle part of the wiring diagram in Fig. 8 shows the desirable manner by which the high pressure cutting oxygen valve |32 may be controlled. The various switches and contacts in this diagram are shown in full line position with the valve 32 closed, so that no high pressure cutting oxygen is iiowing into the manifold unit |25. To open up the valve |32 from the panel 16, the switch |33 is reversed into dotted position shown, so that current ows from the main A" through said switch in dotted position, through relay coil 31, through switches |34 and |36 in full line position, and out through main B. The energized coil |31 causes closure of contacts |40 and |41 into dotted position shown, so that current flows between points branches. One of the branch currents ilows from point |42 through switch |33 in dotted line position to point |43. The other branch current ows from point |42 throughcontact |4| in ldotted line position to Point |43, The closure of the contact |4| into dotted position shown serves to maintain the relay coil |31 energized, even after switch |33 has been returned into full line position, so that con.

tact |40 will also remain closed in dotted position. As long as contact |40 is in this closed position,

current will ilow from main A" to point |42, through contact |40 in dotted position, and through the solenoid of the high pressure cutting oxygen valve |32. The energization of this solenoid opens up this valve |32, so that ilow of cutting oxygen to the torch tip |0 is assured.

The opening of the cutting oxygen valve |32 can also be accomplished by moving the switch 35 on the panel 11 into reverse position from that shown.

The automatic tip distancing control system of the present invention is connected to and cooperates with the manual torch raising and lowering control and with the cutting oxygen control in a manner to be described. This automatic tip distancing control system comprises two thermionic Valves I4 and |4a (Fig. 8) connected in such a manner that one of said valves controls the lower limit of movement of the torch 2, while the other valve controls the upper limit of movement of said torch. These thermionic valves |4 and |411 are of the hot cathode gas tetrode type described with reference to the basic circuit shown in Fig. 1 and are operated in a similar manner. Potentiometers 21 and 21a in the respective circuits of these tubes |4 and |4a are connected in parallel, with their respective sliders 28 and 28a connected to the control grids |1 and |1a of the respective tubes.

In the operation of the system shown in Fig. 8 as the points |50, `|5|, |52, |53 and |54 are all connected together, there is no diiierence in potential between any of these points. Therefore, if the slider 28 is placed at point |55, there will exist the same potential difference across the input terminals of the tube |4 at the control grid |1 and the cathode terminal connection |54 as is available between points and |50, With the battery 25 connected into the circuit as shown, there will be a negative bias potential applied to the grid |1. As the slider 28 is gradually moved' from point |55 in the direction of point |50, the value of the negative bias potential applied to the grid |1 will gradually decrease. As this negative grid bias potential decreases, the tube |4 approaches closer to its point of conductivity. A similar situation exists with respect to the tube |4a as the slider 28a is moved from point |56 to point |5I.

With the torch tip |0 located the proper distance above the metal plate and at its lowest limit for optimum cutting conditions, the slider 28 is movedtowards point |50, and when said slider is just over the dividing line separating the conditions of non-conductivity and conductivity of the tube |4, the circuit of said tube is considered to be adjusted. Under these conditions, the tube I4 is now conducting and the relay 23 is energized.

By the same method of of the tube adjustment, the circuit |4a is adjusted by positioning the slider- 28a on the potentiometer resistor 21a, so that the tube |4a is almost but not quite conducting while the tip I0 is set at its proper limit for optimum cutting conditions. Under these conditions, the grid bias potential of the tube |4a has a slightly greater negative value than the value required for the grid |1a of the tube |4a to lose control and allow the anode circuit of said tube to become conducting. With the circuit of the tube 4a adjusted as stated, there is no anode current flowing, and the relay 23a remains deenergized.

The two tube circuits adjusted as described provide the conditions for maintaining the height o1' the tip Il between preset limits above the plate I| for optimum cutting conditions. With the relay 23 energized and relay 23a deenergized, the switches 24 and '24a operated by these relays respectively are in the position indicated in full lines.

The two switches 24 and 24a are connected in series with a switch |51 operated from a relay |58 connected in parallel across the coil of the high pressure cutting oxygen valve |32. One of the terminals of the switch |51 is connected to one of the poles of the switch S-84 of the manual torch elevational control previously described; one of the terminals of the switch 24 is connected to the point |03 of this control; and one of the terminals of the switch 24a is connected to the point I Il of said control.

Assuming that the switches of the manual torch elevational control are in the full line positions shown in Fig. 8, then current will be available at the switch S-84, so that current may ow from the main A', through said switch in full line position shown. through the switch |51, through the switches 24 and 24a in full line positions shown. Since the circuit terminates at the switch n 24a in the full line position shown, no current will be applied to the motor 54 in the crosshead.

vAssuming that the torch I2 with its tip ID is moving over the plate during cutting operations, and the distance between said tip and said plate decreases, the ilame path IGI between the tip and the plate will decrease and the equivalent resistance of the path |6I will decrease. Any decrease in this flame resistance will decrease the total resistance of the series path formed by the battery 25, the ilame path I 6I and the two parallel connected resistances 21 and 21a. Consequently. under these conditions, there will be a greater proportion of the total voltage drop in this series circuit across the two parallel resistors 21 and 21a, this being the electrical equivalent of mechanically moving the sliders 28 and 28a towards the points |55 and |56. Therefore, with this decrease in ilame path resistance, there is an increase in negative bias potential applied to the grids I1 and I1a of the tubes I4 and |4a respectively. Since the tube |4a is not conducting anode current at the optimum cutting height, an increase in negative bias on grid I1a will not change its condition of operation, and relay 23a will remain deenergized. However, since the tube I4 was initially adjusted so that the negative bias at grid I1 was not quite enough to prevent the tube from conducting current in its anode circuit, an increase in negative bias at the grid I1 u will render the tube |4 non-conducting, so that the relay 23 will become deenergized. When this occurs, the relay switch 24 will be moved into the dotted position shown. Under these conditions, the current that is available from the switch S-84 flows through the switch |51, through switch 24 in the dotted line position shown to point |03. When current is made available at this point |03, the crosshead motor 54 will be actuated to raise the torch I2 and the tip I0. When this tip is raised to a point within predetermined limits, the origina1 electrical conditions in the automatic control circuit are restored. Under these restored conditions, the tube |4a will be returned to its initial value of negative bias, with the relay 23a remaining deenergized, while the tube I4 is again negatively biased to the point where it is just barely conducting, and relay 23 is energized. Under these restored conditions, no current will be supplied to the crosshead motor 54.

If, while the torch I2 with associated tip I0 is moving over the plate II, the distance between the tip and the plaie increases, the flame path ISI will also increase. so that the equivalent resistance of this path will be increased. Increase in this ilame resistance will increase the total resistance of the series path formed by the battery 25, the flame path ISI and the two parallel resistors 21 and 21a. Consequently, there will be a lesser proportion of the total voltage drop in this series circuit across the two resistors 21 and 21a, and this will be electrically equivalent to mechanically moving the sliders 2t and 28a towards the points |50 and |5I, so that there is a decrease of negative bias potential applied to the grids I1 and I1a of the tubes I4 and Ila respectively.

Since the tube I4 was conducting anode current at the optimum cutting height, a decrease in negative bias on grid I1 will not change its condition of operation, and relay 23 will remain energized. However, since the tube I4a was initially adjusted so that the negative bias potential on grid |1a was just enough to prevent the tube from conducting current in the anode circuit, a decrease in the negative bias on said tube will cause said tube to conduct current in its anode circuit, and thereby cause energization of the relay 23a. With the relay 23a energized, the switch 24a will be moved into the dotted position shown. Under these conditions, the current that was available at the switch S44 flows through switch |51, through switch 24 in full line position shown, through switch 24a in dotted position shown and to point Ill. With the current available at IIB, the crosshead motor 54 is actuated to lower the torch I2 and the tip I0 as has been already described. When the tip I0 is lowered until it again falls within predetermined limits, the original electrical conditions are restored to the series circuit of the control system. Under these initial conditions, the tube |4a is returned to its initial value of negative bias, and relay 23a is again deenergized, while the tube I4 is still negatively biased to a point where it is just barely conducting, and relay 23 remains energized. Under these restored conditions, no current is supplied to the crosshead motor 54.

With the power to the automatic tip distancing device obtained from the upper pole of the switch S--84, power will be available to this device only as long as the device for manually controllingthe raising and lowering of the torch is not operated and the switches S-1|, S-12, l

S-SII, S-8I, S- and S-84 in said latter device are in the position shown in full lines. As soon as any one of these switches is operated from this full line position, current at the upper pole of the switch S-l4 ls cut off. so that power to the relay switches |51, 24 and 24a in the automatic tip distancing device will be cut off and said latter device rendered inoperative. This tieup of the two devices as indicated not only prevents conilicting power from being applied to the crosshead motor 54 in a manner tending to rotate said motor in both directions, but allows a manual adjustment of the tip height at any time even though the automatic control is operable.

The operation of the relay coil |58 controlling the switch |51 is dependent upon the operation of the solenoid valve |22 controlling the supply of high pressure cutting oxygen to the tip III. This relay coil |58 is electrically connected in parallel with the solenoid of this valve, so that this coil is not .energized until the coil oi the valve |32 is energized and said valve opened. Thus the automatic tip distancng device is not operated until actual cutting begins, as this is when the assistance of this device is needed. When relay coil |58 is energized, the switch I51 as well as a switch |64 in the anode circuits of the two tubes I4 and I 4a are closed.

A further switch I 65 controlled from the main panel 16 may be provided in the circuit of the relay coil |58. This switch |65 may be of the toggle type, and serves to disconnect the automatic tip distancng device when it is desired not to use said device. With this switch |65 opened, the opening or' the solenoid valve |32 will not initiate the operation of the automatic tip distancng device.

The distance between the upper and lower limits of travel of the tip under automatic control is extremely narrow, and in most instances, current is supplied only for a fraction of a second at any one time to the crosshead motor 54 while said tip is under such control. Under these conditions, the armature of the crosshead motor 54 might only rotate a few revolutions at any one time to automatically correct the height of the tip, and might overrun by its inertia as much as one-half a revolution after current to said motor was shut olf. It is therefore highly desirable to prevent this overtravel of the motor 54. For that purpose, there is provided a solenoid brake comprising a brake drum |66 (Figs. 6 and 7) on the armature of the crosshead motor 54 and a brake shoe |61 carried by a brake arm |68 pivoted. at one end at |69. A spring I10 fixed at its ends to the motor frame and the brake arm |68 respectively, urges the brake shoe |61 into braking contact with the brake drum |66. A solenoid |1I has a plunger |12 connected tothe free end of the brake arm |68. This solenoid |1I is electrically connected in parallel with the crosshead motor 54 across the points |04 and |05 as shown in Fig. 8.

While current to the crosshead motor 54 is interrupted, the solenoid I1| is deenergized, and the brake shoe |61 is held against the brake drum |66 by the spring |10. As soon as current starts to flow to the motor 54, the solenoid |1I is energized, and the brake shoe |61 is pulled away from the brake drum |66 to permit said motor to rotate.

With the solenoid brake described, it has been found in actual operations that the overtravel of the torch tip after current to the motor 54 has been disconnected and the solenoid brake applied is not morethan ten thousands (0.010) of an inch.

The electrical connection 26 to each torch is desirably in the form of an insulated spring wire. one end of which is plugged into a socket |13 mounted on the frame of the manifold unit |25 in the rear of the carriage 40 as shown in Fig. 3. while the other end is plugged into electrical contact with a bracket |14 mounted on the top of the metal torch barrel |2 as shown in Fig. 4. This bracket |14 is in electrical contact with the torch frame I2, and serves also as a mounting plate for the ends of gas supply hose |26. The spring wire 26 serves not only as the electrical connection to the torch barrel I2 and the tip I0, but also serves as a support for the flexible gas supply hose |26.

The plate to be cut is grounded by a wire |16. This ground connection to the plate I I may be effected by simply laying said plate on the work table 45 which is electrically connected to ,21a are made.

the machine supporting table 4| by a metallic strap |11. Consequently, the entire cutting machine and the work table are all connected t0- gether, and the automatic tip distancng units are grounded to the machine carriage. This is the equivalent of electrically connecting them to the metal plate I I being flame cut.

There is a separate automatic tip distancng device for each crosshead unit 44, and each device is desirably mounted as a self-contained unit enclosed in a casing |18 with a removable cover as shown in Fig. 3 and as is indicated by the dot and dash line in Fig. 8. These units are mounted in the rear of the carriage 40, the cover of one of these units being shown removed in Fig. 3 to reveal part of the interior thereof. A series of male plugs |80 projecting from the side of e'ach casing |18 permits easy electrical connection to each of the automatic tip distancng devices. These plugs |80 form connections to the wires extending across the casing outline indicated by the dot and dash line in Fig. 8.

With the automatic height controlling device described, no adjustments need be made over a wide range of tip sizes covering a wide range of plate thicknesses. As the thickness of the plate to be cut increases, there must be an increased volume of preheating gases passed per unit of time to raise the temperature of the metal to the kindling temperature. The preheating orices which are annularly located about the central cutting orice, increase in total cross-sectional area to provide the required amount of heat. With an increase in total cross-sectional area, the cross-sectional area of any one of the preheating cones of the flame is increased, and the electrical conductivity of the flame correspondingly increased. As more preheat gas is passed per unit of time in a larger sized tip, there is a slight increase in the flame cone lengths. This longer length of ame path tends to decrease its electrical conductivity, and compensates for the increase in the total cross-sectional area of the llame cone tending to increase in this conductivity. Even though the actual distance from the ends of the cutting tips to the plate does increase with increase in tip size, yet the distance from the end of the preheating cones of the flame to the plate I I being cut remains constant. For this reason, it is possible to maintain optimum cutting conditions for various sizes of tips by maintaining the torch tip between horizontal upper and lower limits, the spacing between these limits depending on the sensitivity with which adjustments in the potentiometer sliders 21 and Once these limits are established,

. no adjustments need to be made over a wide range of tip sizes covering a wide range of plate thicknesses. The automatic tip distancng control maintains the lowest surface of the various tips within these vertical limits even though the surface of the plate II being cut is uneven and non-horizontal through warpage, through tilting of the top of the work table 45, or through variation in the thickness of said plate over its area.

The tip distancng device may be used as an audible or visible indicator of cutting conditions. For instance, with a hand welding or cutting torch, the two relays 23 and 23a can be made to control two buzzers whose tones are different, these buzzers being connected to respective headphones. After optimum cutting or welding conditions are initially established, there would be no buzzer sounds as long as these conditions are maintained. If the operator should hold his torch too close to the work, one of the buzzers would sound, and if he should hold the torch too far away, the other buzzer would sound, thereby warning the operator. Such a device could, for instance, be useful in the training of novices.

As a simple means for accomplishing this result a relay coil 240 may be included in a line leading from the switch 24a, and a relay coil 244 may be inserted in the line leading from the switch 24.

As shown in Fig. 8, the energizing of the coil 240 will close the switch 24| and permit a current to flow from a battery through either a buzzer 242 or a lamp 243. These are shown as arranged in parallel with each other and in series with the switch 24|. By providing suitable switches in the lines leading to the lamp and the buzzer, either or both may be operated upon closing the switch 24|.

Similarly, a buzzer 246 and a lamp 241 are arranged in parallel with each other and in series with the same battery, and with a switch 245 which is closed by the energizing of the coil 244. If the torch moves too close to the workpiece, one of the coils will be'energized to actuate the lamp and/or buzzer, and if thev torch moves too far away from the workpiece the other lamp and/or buzzer will be actuated.

As many changes can be made in the above method and apparatus, and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention can be made without departing from the scope of the claims, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

l. The method of controlling the spacing of a torch tip from a workpiece with which the flame from said tip engages, which comprises the steps of passing electric current through the torch flame and between the torch tip and the work surface, and automatically controlling the movement of said cutting torch tip toward and from said workpiece in response to changes in the electric conductivity of said flame.

2. An apparatus for controlling the operation of a torch device, including means for passing electric current through the torch flame and between the torch tip and a metal work surface, and means automatically responsive to variations in the electric conductivity of said flame for operating a part of said device.

3. In an apparatus for controlling the operation of a torch device, the combination comprising means for passing electric current through the torch flame and between the torch tip and a metal work surface, an electric control circuit, and means for breaking or making said circuit automatically in response to variations in the electric conductivity of said flame.

4. An apparatus for controlling the spacing of a torch from a workpiece, including means for moving said torch towards and from the workpiece, means for passing electric current through the torch flame, means automatically responsive to variations in the electric conductivity of said llame for actuating said first mentioned means, and means visually indicating changes in the electric conductivity of said flame.

5. In an apparatus for controlling the operation of a torch device, the combination comprising means for passing electric current through the torch iiame and between the torch tip and a metal work surface, an electric control circuit, a thermionic valve in said control circuit, and means for rendering said valve conducting upon variation of the electric conductivity of said flame from a predetermined value to make said circuit.

6. In an apparatus for controlling the operation of a, torch device, the combination comprising means for passing electric current through the torch flame and between the torch tip and a metal work surface, a pair of electric control circuits. means for automatically changing the current conditions in one of said circuits when the electric conductivity of said flame decreases below a predetermined value, and means for automatically changing the current conditions in the other circuit when said name conductivity increases above a predetermined value.

7. In an apparatus for controlling the operation of a torch device, the combination comprising means for passing electric current through the torch flame and between the torch tip and a metal Work surface, a pair of electric control circuits, each including a thermionic valve, means for altering the conductive capacity of vone of said valves when the electric conductivity of said flame decreases below a predetermined value, whereby said valve is changed from conductive to nonconductive or non-conductive to conductive, and means for altering the conductive capacity of the other valve when said llame conductivity increases above a predetermined value to render the valve conductive or non-conductive.

8. An apparatus for maintaining a torch tip inl position between predetermined spaced limits parallel to a metal work surface, comprising means for passing electric current along the gas g flame from said torch tip to said surface, and means responsive to variations in the electric conductivity of said flame resulting from variations in the position of said torch tip beyond said limits for restoring said tip into position between said limits.

9. In a. torch tip distancing device, the combination comprising an electricl circuit having a connection to said tip and another to a metal workpiece, whereby the gas flame emitted from said tip serves as a part of the conducting path of said circuit, a thermionic valve responsive to variations in the conductivity of said ame resulting from a change in the tip to workpiece spacing beyond a predetermined value, and means controlled from said valve for displacing said tip in a direction to restore said spacing towards said predetermined value.

10. An apparatus for controlling the operation of a torch device, including a pair of circuits, a pair of thermionic tubes in said circuits respectively, said tubes being of the type which become non-conductive when the controlling voltages impressed thereon exceed a predetermined negative value, and which become conductive when the controlling voltages impressed thereon drop below said predetermined negative value, the torch tip and a metal workpiece upon which said tip operates being connected in the circuits of said tubes, whereby the ame between said torch tip and said workpiece forms part of the conducting path of said circuits and the voltages impressed on said tubes depend on the conductivity of said .flame, and means for automatically operating a part of said device according to the conductive or non-conductive condition of said tubes,

11. An apparatus for controlling the operation of a torch device, including a pair cf circuits, a pair of thermionic tubes in said circuits respectively, said tubes being of the type which become v non-conductive when the controlling voltages impressed thereon exceed a. predetermined negative value and which become conductive when the controlling voltages impressed thereon drop below said predetermined negative value, the torch tip and a metal workpiece upon which said tip operates being connected in the circuits of said tubes, whereby the name between said torch tip and said workpiece forms part of the conducting path of said circuits and the voltages impressed on said tubes depend on the conductivity of said flame, means for adjusting the controlling potential in each of said circuits whereby the sensil tivity of said tubes can be adjusted and the two limits of conductivity of the iame beyond which ,said tubes become conducting or non-conducting is established, and means automatically responsive t changes in the conductive condition of said tubes resulting from changes in the conductivity of said flame beyond said limits for operating a part of said device.

12. An apparatus for maintaining a torch tip in position between predetermined spaced limits parallel to the surface of a workpiece being operated on, comprising a pair of circuits, a pair of thermionic tubes in said circuits respectively, said tubes being of the type which become non-con ductive when the controlling voltages impressed thereon exceed a predetermined negative value, and which become conductive when the controlling voltages impressed thereon drop below said predetermined negative value, said torch tip and said workpiece being connected in the circuits of :said tubes, whereby the operating iiame between said torch tip and said workpiece forms part of the conducting path of said circuits, andthe voltages impressed on said tubes depend on the distance of the torch tip from said workpiece, means for adjusting the controlling potential in each of said circuits whereby the sensitivity of said tubes can -be adjusted and the two limits of conductivity of the flame beyond which said tubes become conducting or non-conducting to conform with said predetermined spaced limits can be established, and means automatically responsive to changes in the conductive condition of said tubes resulting from the displacement of said torch tip beyond said predetermined spaced limits for restoring said torch tip to a position within said limits.

13. In combination, a device for automatically maintaining a iiame cutting torch tip at a predetermined distance from a workpiece to be cut, a valve for controlling flow of cutting oxygen to said torch tip, and means for automatically rendering said device inoperative while said valve is closed, and fcr automatically initiating the operation of said device upon the opening of said valve.

14. In combination, a manually controlled device for regulating the distance of a torch tip from a work surface, an automatic device for maintaining a torch tip at a predetermined distance from said work surface during operations, and means for automatically rendering said automatic device inoperative while said manually controlled device is being operated.

15. An apparatus for controlling the flow of cutting oxygen to a torch, comprising a cutting oxygen valve, means for heating a workpiece to be cut with a preheating flame, and electrical means for automatically opening said valve when the thermionic emission of saidpreheated workpiece adding algebraically to the conductivity of the flame between said torch and said workpiece reaches a predetermined value.

16. The method of maintaining a torch tip in positions between predetermined limiting distances from a workpiece, which comprises the steps of passing electric current through the torch flame between the torch tip and the workpiece, and automatically moving the torch tip into positions between said limits when the conductivity of the flame is greater or less within a limited range of values.

f 17. The method of controlling the operation of metal cutting by a torch flame, which includes the steps of applying a preheating flame from a torch tip to a workpiece, passing an electric current through the ame between the torch tip and the workpiece, and automatically initiating the delivery of cutting oxygen against the preheated area of the workpiece when the thermionic emission of the preheated workpiece added algebraically to the conductivity of the flame reaches a predetermined value.

CHESTER MOTT. ALFRED F. CHOUINARD. R. L. HARDING. 

